Colombian President Gustavo Petro has warned that there is now a “real threat” of US military action against Colombia, accusing Washington of treating other nations as part of an American “empire” and risking international isolation.

In an interview with the BBC, Petro said recent remarks by US President Donald Trump — including saying a military operation in Colombia “sounds good” — should be taken seriously. He argued that the United States risks shifting from “dominating the world” to becoming “isolated from the world.”

The Colombian leader also strongly criticised US immigration enforcement, accusing agents of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of acting like “Nazi brigades,” following the Trump administration’s expansion of immigration operations. The White House has been approached for comment.

Tensions have escalated following recent US military strikes in Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro. After the operation, Trump suggested that military action against Colombia could be considered and repeatedly told Petro to “watch his ass” — remarks the Colombian president condemned.

Although Trump and Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday evening, with Trump later describing the conversation on Truth Social as a “Great Honour” and signalling a possible White House meeting, Petro suggested relations had not significantly improved. He told the BBC the call lasted nearly an hour and focused largely on drug trafficking, Venezuela and US policy in Latin America.

Petro said US immigration enforcement had reached a point where it was no longer only targeting Latin Americans but had also resulted in the killing of US citizens, citing the recent shooting of a 37-year-old woman by an immigration agent in Minneapolis, which sparked protests.

The Trump administration says it has deported more than 600,000 people since January 2025 and encouraged nearly two million undocumented immigrants to “self-deport,” while expanding ICE operations nationwide as part of a broader crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.

Trump has repeatedly accused Colombia and Venezuela of failing to curb drug trafficking. The US has carried out more than 30 strikes in recent months on vessels it says were used for drug smuggling in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing more than 110 people. Trump has said operations would now extend to land, arguing that drug cartels are “running Mexico.”

Petro rejected accusations linking him to drug trafficking, saying he has fought cartels for decades and paid a personal price, including his family going into exile. A former guerrilla, he has pursued a “total peace” policy since taking office, prioritising dialogue with armed groups — a strategy critics say has coincided with record cocaine production.

Petro acknowledged challenges but said coca cultivation growth was slowing under a dual approach of peace talks with some groups and military offensives against others. He argued the policy had helped reduce violence in parts of southern Colombia.

Asked how Colombia would respond to a potential US attack, Petro said he preferred dialogue but warned that Colombia’s history shows how it responds to foreign armies. “We don’t have anti-aircraft defences,” he said, adding that the country would rely on “the masses, our mountains and our jungles.”

Colombia, the world’s largest producer of cocaine, is also rich in oil, coal and precious minerals. Petro accused Washington of pursuing wars over resources and said US actions in Venezuela and the region reflected a long history of imperial behaviour.

After Trump’s remarks, demonstrations were held across Colombia in defence of sovereignty and democracy. Petro said removing the threat of conflict would depend on ongoing dialogue, but stressed that the danger was real.